The Ministry of Information has called on the Police Service to promptly investigate the circumstances which led to the assault of the Benya FM presenter.
Reacting to the news of the attack, the Ministry condemned the act by the unnamed men during an on-air programme and called on the Police to prosecute the perpetrators of the act.
In a statement by the Ministry, it intimated that the action by the thugs was unnecessary and without justification. “The Ministry of Information condemns the reported assault in no uncertain terms.” The Ministry described as totally unacceptable the attack on the broadcaster and said “there is no justification whatsoever for a broadcaster to be assaulted simply for doing his work.”
The Ministry revealed that the Deputy Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar has spoken to the manager of the station and the District Police Commander to work together to bring the suspects to book.
The call by the Ministry was a reaction to an attack on Osofo Blessing, a presenter with Benya FM in Elmina over reports that the radio station was discussing matters of non-availability of premix fuel and how those who are not fishermen were given the product at the detriment of fishermen who utilize the product.
Circumstances leading to attack
Narrating the ordeal, the Programmes Manager of Benya FM, Kwaku Osman Dawud, revealed that on Monday, May 16, 2022, around 10am, premix fuel came to Elmina on one of the Landing beaches and three men who weren’t fishermen took some before it was distributed to the fishermen. Due to this, he revealed there was a misunderstanding which his colleague went to probe but got beaten in the course of his questioning.
“The information got to the MCE not knowing the boys were given the premix before the MCE and Policemen got there. My colleague who hosts the program on Mondays was at the scene when it happened but those three young guys had already taken their share.”
Kwaku Osman Dawud
According to the Programmes Manager, later in the evening around 7 pm, the host of the show who got beaten earlier at the beach was on air when he lauded the MCE for intervening in the situation. However, this did not sit well with the guys who launched an attack.
“They are NPP party boys. When they came to the studio, they were three on motorbikes from a pub close to the studio. The other presenter was sitting in front of the studio and the security was going to get food. So, when they parked the motor bike, my colleague thought they were entering the pub but they entered and started scattering things.”
Kwaku Osman Dawud
The Programmes Manager disclosed that because the attackers couldn’t find the studio, they destroyed numerous things in the office before they finally found the studio with the presenter on air. “When they got there, they destroyed our microphones, computer and equipment before they decided to punch him. They held him, beat him and brought and beat him again.”
Mr. Osman admonished authorities to calm down and listen to matters on the ground. “Anytime at all you try to put the reality out there, its either they take it or deny it till you provide evidence for whatever it is.”
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